By Lewis Bennett
GOALSCORING duo Olivia Marshall and Tallon McMahon were proud to play important parts in helping Bangor FC Ladies win a 10-goal thriller away to Ballymoney United Ladies last week.
The Seasiders are officially midway through the NIWFA Championship season and on a high after an action-packed 7-3 victory at Paddy’s Park in Dervock last Wednesday night.
That made it three wins on the bounce for Chris Dougan’s side during which time they have scored an eye-watering 28 goals, also defeating Holywood Ladies 15-1 in the Women’s Challenge Cup and Ballymena United Women 6-1 in the Irish Cup.
That triumph over the Sky Blues on June 6 came courtesy of a barnstorming second half at Clandeboye Park during which five different Bangor players found the scoresheet, inspiring belief that Dougan’s team could make a hot start here as well.
That proved not to be the case as Ballymoney capitalised on a sluggish opening 20 minutes from the visitors to break the deadlock, but what followed was a glut of goals – including two for Marshall – in an action-packed first period that ended 4-3 in Bangor’s favour.
From there, the Yellows never looked back, with a special strike by teen talent McMahon in second-half stoppage-time wrapping up the scoring after yet another Amber Dempster hat-trick helped rubber-stamp the three points.
Marshall has four goals in as many games since arriving from Civil Service Ladies, and the 22-year-old winger was glad Bangor recovered from something of a hangover after the high of that Ballymena success.
“I think coming from the Ballymena game, we were a bit tired,” she admitted. “We knew what we had to do today, just get out, get the job done to keep our winning streak going.
“We had a slow start, I think that was just tired legs. But we got into the game and it ended with a win for us, so we’re happy with that.”
On her own arrival and how she has settled in, Marshall – who has Women’s Premiership pedigree under her belt having represented both Linfield and Glentoran as a teenager – beams that she has been made to “feel like family”.
“Coming into the group, it feels like I’ve been here for years,” she said.
“The girls have been so welcoming, I couldn’t have asked for any more, Chris (Dougan) and all the coaches as well have been amazing.
“From the minute I’ve stepped into the club, they’ve made me feel like family, so I couldn’t ask for any more from them.”
Ballymoney hit the front on 20 minutes through Aine McAlister’s close-range finish, however Marshall hit back just six minutes later to restore parity with a smart finish after Emi Wynne did well to play her in.
Marshall was one of those five second-half goalscorers against Ballymena and another of that contingent, Janine Jess, turned the tide on 32 minutes here to put Bangor in front for the first time when she rifled into the bottom right corner.
Ballymoney wouldn’t go away as Cleo-Neese Taggart nipped in past goalkeeper Amy Wignall to level it back up at 2-2 on 38 minutes, and although Marshall’s second of the night swiftly restored Bangor’s advantage, McAlister then struck from range in stoppage-time to equalise once more.
Top goalscorer Dempster scored with the last meaningful kick of the half to send Bangor into the break in front, but there was still plenty of work to do.
Thankfully, the Seasiders rose to the task as Dempster bravely got in ahead of Ballymoney stopper Karen Millar to complete her brace on 51 minutes before the experienced striker made it a treble with 20 minutes to go that effectively rubber-stamped the outcome.
There was, however, still time for one more party piece in second-half stoppage-time when McMahon – sprung from the bench just moments earlier – bagged the goal of the night as her long-range piledriver picked out the top corner.
It was the gifted 16-year-old’s first league goal in a Bangor shirt having struck a brace in the emphatic Holywood triumph and she was all smiles afterwards, outlining just what it means to chip in with goals and help the Seasiders to victory.
“It is such a great feeling to score goals and play with such an amazing team,” said McMahon.
“You can’t describe the feeling of how good it is to come on and score goals, and I was able to come on and pick my spot tonight that has helped the team win another game.
“Especially because I’m only 16, it is just such a great feeling to come on and make an impact.”
Former Castle player McMahon added that she feels right at home in the Bangor dressing room and feels she is in a dream environment as she builds her experience at senior level.
“It’s a great changing room to be a part of. There’s a great mix of younger and experienced players in there and everybody gets on so well,” she said.
“As a young player, it’s such a great environment to be in and I’m really glad we were able to keep our recent winning run going.”
Bangor travel to Glenkeen Avenue to take on Greenisland Women tomorrow (Friday) evening at 7.30pm in their next NIWFA Championship assignment.
The Seasiders will face the same opposition at the same venue in the Women’s Challenge Cup too, travelling to east Antrim on Monday, June 30 (7.30pm), while they have been pitted against current Premiership basement dwellers Larne in the Irish Cup and will travel to Inver Park on Friday, July 17 (7.30pm).
